How to Fight Back the Winter Blues

If you're like a lot of people, this time a year can be a drag. If you live someplace that has a lot of gray days, you might find it hard to motivate and do the very things that make you feel good. For some, it turns into a full-blown depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder. (SAD)

This season can be especially difficult to manage and come to terms with if you are typically a very high-performing person. I am not a therapist; I am a leadership coach. So, why am I writing about this? Because my clients are whole human beings and not machines. They’ve got big dreams and ambitions and sometimes anxiety, depression and other life events can get in the way. None of us is operating at peak performance and blazing head first towards our goals 100% of the time. When we’re feeling down, we need even more self-care.

The good news for those experiencing the winter blues, is that you don't just have suffer until the weather breaks. While you may not feel as good as when it's sunny, there are a few things you can try:

1. Let there be light!: Get a full-spectrum light bulb that mimics sunlight; they've been proven to lift the mood. (I have one on my desk year round.)

2. Stay connected: Do your best to reach out to family and friends. Let them know you’re not feeling your best and ask them to check in on you. Schedule something fun with them that may not feel like doing, but you know will make you feel better. Ask them to hold you accountable for showing up.

3. Help someone: Today I was sitting at my desk not feeling very motivated, and I reminded myself that I was in business to be of service to my clients. So, to take the focus off myself, I reached out to my clients to check in, see how they’re doing and share a resource they might be interested in. Of course that is my regular business practice, but today I did it for them AND to lift my own mood.

4. Exercise: I KNOW this is so hard. I hadn't worked out in over a week and it was the last thing I wanted to do in last week's Georgia monsoon, but I went yesterday morning and it was just what I needed. If you struggle with getting a work out in consistently, an accountability buddy might help. Even a brisk walk can make a difference.

5. Give yourself a break: If you don't expect yourself to be as motivated and productive as usual when you’re blue, you won't be as likely to beat yourself up for your decreased output. The U.S. is a "productivity" addicted culture and it is so bad for us, in so many ways. Self-love and self-compassion is really important at times like this.

We’re all “gung ho” for the new year and then, for many of us, the gray skies and cold weather takes some of the wind from beneath our wings. It’s okay. For most, it will pass. If it doesn’t, reaching out to a therapist may be in order. I believe in using every resource you can to help you thrive. Therapy has been a really important tool in my toolkit over the years.

Some or none of this may work for you, so do a little research and experiment to find what does. Just know, you're not alone.

If you have some other tips, drop them in the comments below.

Be well and sending you sunshine!